What it Means to Be Left Hand Path

[Orias]

A lot are confused by this, and I'm not sure why. Maybe its the overwhelming response, or the vast depth to the meaning some try to push forth. Or maybe its the shroud many place around it, even if so many within the circle try to lift it. People and their natural state will always shroud what they find as difficult to understand in a mystical or truly "indefinable" position.

So what does it mean to be apart of the "LHP"? What does it mean to be Left Hand Path?

Does it mean to be predominately left handed? Or left brained?

No...instead...what I think Left Hand Path to be is realization, awareness of both tools, hammer and nail, poster and wall.

In boxing, I use it as a feint, a check. In Tae Kwon Do I use it as a plant foot, a stepping foot. In jiu jitsu it is my rubber guard. In essence, the Left Hand Path is a stage, where the audience or the RHP is guided by a mere notion of "no reason", we perform and perform for the pure joy of being and expression. Yet we remain in role, for the sake that the audience might throw roses before our feet.

What it means to be Left Hand Path is to have no restraints, regarding any mental capability, or physical instability. To be Left Hand Path is to be able to host for amusement, and host for the circle of knowing. To be Left Hand Path is to simply host, the presence of all spirits and undefiled wisdom that one may seek in the vacuum of existence.

To be Left Hand Path, is to guide the right hand in knowing, where one holds ground so that the other may flourish, like using one hand to hold paper while the other guides the pen, or how in sparring one is used to measure the distance between you and the foe, while the other remains ready to strike.

More importantly, what it means to be LHP, is to posses knowledge that few care to understand, and even fewer care to develop. Unknowing and its presence among men, as curiosity graces the face of all onlookers, so will the path of the Left.

Xeper!

 

[Shuddhasattva]

To trust oneself in all things, without reservation.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

To be LHP, as far as I can tell, is to put the One above the All.

 

[Shuddhasattva]

To be LHP, as far as I can tell, is to put the One above the All.

For some.

Take Trika Shaivism for example, which is a siddhanta school (combinining daksina and vama marga-s, ie both left and right hand paths); the One is syntheisized in the All, and the All is synthesized in the One. The individual being is seen as the supreme aggregate of consciousness, composed by yet not reliant on, all other beings.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

For some.

Take Trika Shaivism for example, which is a siddhanta school (combinining daksina and vama marga-s, ie both left and right hand paths); the One is syntheisized in the All, and the All is synthesized in the One. The individual being is seen as the supreme aggregate of consciousness, composed by yet not reliant on, all other beings.

Exactly. It seems as though LHP encompasses "One is All" and RHP encompasses "All is One".

 

[Shuddhasattva]

Exactly. It seems as though LHP encompasses "One is All" and RHP encompasses "All is One".

LHP in Trika (or its parent system; Kaula which underlies all tantrism) doesn't distinguish itself based on prioritizing the individual over the collective though.

The emphasis on the individual / the collective is a matter of whether an experience is more aware (prakasha; shiva) or self-aware (vimarsha; shakti) as the Trika analyzes it.

 

[Shuddhasattva]

Nobody here is responsible for your lack of practical understanding.

 

[Informare]

To trust oneself in all things, without reservation.

I would argue completely against trusting oneself in all things without reservation. I think the mark of a truly intelligent person--regardless of their religious affiliation--is to question all things and especially questions one's own actions and views. Every action should be tested, analyzed, and put through a rigorous examination. If it is worthy, pursue it at all costs. If it fails that test, abandon it or alter it.

 

[Orias]

I come from the notion that the things I do, I do with the reserve that I am capable of doing. And that with being capable of doing whatever is on my mind, I also have the mind to be good at whatever I am willing to do. In other words, I don't do things I'm not good at (though its not hard for me to learn).

While at the same time, a reserve of doubt must be kept in order to maintain a level of sanity that makes my will more effective. If I am doubtful of a situation or a line of thought, I will look for a different route.

 

[Shuddhasattva]

Self-doubt != doubt

Awareness != self-awareness

 

[Iti oj]

Ok, look people, on the LHP talk is cheap. It is one thing to express knowledge of certain magical techniques, but what I and many other Black Magicians look for is real world results which manifest through the actual practice of these techniques. I have expressed results of many of my magical practices, however, there are those of you who talk about your knowledge, but do not express what you have gained through the actual practice of your own magical knowledge and understanding. Sure, express your knowledge, but also relate the real world effects of your actual practice of said knowldge. This is a vital premise of the Left-Hand Path.

Xeper.
/Adramelek\
Gnothi seauton!

And how do you judge that? I mean i highly doubt our desires are similar. How can i express the results of desires you never had. How do i explain that flower in bloom november to one who seeks.not the flower?

 

[NIX]

And how do you judge that? I mean i highly doubt our desires are similar. How can i express the results of desires you never had. How do i explain that flower in bloom november to one who seeks.not the flower?

And why would you even want to try?

I see the LHP as being about doing your own thing, free of the need to concern yourself with other people doing their own thing.

 

[Iti oj]

And why would you even want to try?

I see the LHP as being about doing your own thing, free of the need to concern yourself with other people doing their own thing.

that was my point!!

 

[Adramelek]

And how do you judge that? I mean i highly doubt our desires are similar. How can i express the results of desires you never had. How do i explain that flower in bloom november to one who seeks.not the flower?

Point well taken my friend.

Xeper.
/Adramelek\
:foot:

 

[Bhairava]

To do practices not acceptable in your culture.

Im a follower of Trika Shaivism and a Kapalika Shaivite at heart so the practices I could do would make a person from any culture consider it left hand path and be freaked out.

 

[Adramelek]

What it means to be a Left-Hand Path Magician is not limited to, but does include the following:

1. Working towards Mastery of Life.
2. Independent, intelligent thought.
3. An iron will when it comes to actualizing your goals and ambitions.
4. Being fearless yet prudent.
5. Independence from the herd mentality, religious and philosophical, i.e. antinomianism.
6. Creative talent.
7. The study and practice of Magic to receive inspiration of life and to make manifest ones desires and will.
8. Love of life and the learning from its experiences which brings forth knowledge and wisdom which is power.
9. Self Initiation is of prime importance.

Xeper and Remanifest.
/Adramelek\
Gnothi seauton!

 

[Iti oj]

What it means to be a Left-Hand Path Magician is not limited to, but does include the following:

1. Working towards Mastery of Life.
2. Independent, intelligent thought.
3. An iron will when it comes to actualizing your goals and ambitions.
4. Being fearless yet prudent.
5. Independence from the herd mentality, religious and philosophical, i.e. antinomianism.
6. Creative talent.
7. The study and practice of Magic to receive inspiration of life and to make manifest ones desires and will.
8. Love of life and the learning from its experiences which brings forth knowledge and wisdom which is power.
9. Self Initiation is of prime importance.

Xeper and Remanifest.
/Adramelek\
Gnothi seauton!

I think this is the best list yet

 

[1137]

Less and less do I think the LHP includes or excludes anything other than walking your own path. For example, slave mentality is not LHP as you are following others down a well walked path. The LHP lets one take what they want from where they want and use it how they want to. There is not much more than that; your own complex religion. I know LHPers who believe some of the most absurd supernatural crap I've ever heard, some to the point where I respect slave-like believers even more than the LHPer. But, the validity of the belief is not the divider.

 

[Adramelek]

Less and less do I think the LHP includes or excludes anything other than walking your own path. For example, slave mentality is not LHP as you are following others down a well walked path. The LHP lets one take what they want from where they want and use it how they want to. There is not much more than that; your own complex religion. I know LHPers who believe some of the most absurd supernatural crap I've ever heard, some to the point where I respect slave-like believers even more than the LHPer. But, the validity of the belief is not the divider.

This is all quite true. But what is the Divider? The Divider is that barrier between the subjective and objective universes, the barrier between Order and Chaos, Magic and reality, the Black Flame and primal instinct, the barrier between the rational mind and the Id. Could this barrier be linked to the Abyss (Absu)? However, also, to me, Magic would be the great Uniter of the Two Lands.

Xeper.
/Adramelek\

 

[Gjallarhorn]

That sounds like an entire non-sequitur.